Newly ordained Father Preston Castro, left, and Father Lawrence “Larry” Denis III, second from right, were all smiles at their ordination Mass May 16 as they were congratulated by their brother priests, including La Salette Father Arlan Intal, second from left, and Father Alfred Omar B. Guerrero. (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
Bishop Larry Silva ordains Preston Castro and Lawrence ‘Larry’ Denis III to the priesthood
Hawaii Catholic Herald
As a full congregation at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa looked on, the Diocese of Honolulu gained two new priests May 16 as Bishop Larry Silva ordained Deacon Preston Castro and Deacon Lawrence “Larry” Denis III to the priesthood.
Hundreds of family, friends and faithful filled the pews of the Honolulu church. Also present were faculty and fellow seminarians from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, from which both Father Castro and Father Denis graduated.
More than 60 priests and nearly two dozen deacons were on hand to welcome their new brother priests into the fold.
The rite of ordination ranged from solemn — with Deacon Castro and Deacon Denis lying prostrate as the Litany of the Saints was sung — to joyful, as now-Fathers Castro and Denis were each congratulated individually by the priests of the diocese.
“It is important to remember that what happens on the altar does not stay on the altar,” Bishop Silva told the men in his homily.
Though Fathers Castro and Denis now have the power of consecration, Bishop Silva said, “you are consecrating more than bread and wine, because all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus place ourselves on the altar as a living sacrifice.”
“You will also consecrate the living body of Christ when you spend time with your people, listening to their burdens and enlightening them with your care.”
“When you live close to Jesus through your prayers and service, you live in giving witness to Jesus as someone who is not simply in the past tense but who is true and present with us now,” Bishop Silva said. “You have heard the call of Jesus.”
“We call upon all the sanctified and consecrated people of God throughout the ages to pray for you so that you will never lose this sense of awe of what you will be entrusted to do,” Bishop Silva told the men.
Father Castro, left, and Father Denis joined Bishop Silva at the altar during the Eucharistic prayer at their ordination Mass May 16.
Deacons Castro and Denis lay prostrate as the Litany of the Saints was sung and the congregation prayed for them.
The more than 60 priests in attendance individually prayed over the deacons, including Father Anthony “Tony” Pangan, praying over the newly ordained Father Castro at left, and Father Rheo Ofalsa praying over the newly ordained Father Denis. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
